Our Mission
ENHANCE CHILDREN'S LIVES THROUGH BASEBALL & SOFTBALL's POWER TO TEACH
Our Vision
EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND TOOLS TO SWING FOR THE FENCES ON AND OFF THE FIELD
Our Values
HAVE FUN
We weave joy and play into every aspect of our work.
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
We believe every child has the capacity to succeed when given the chance.
BE BOLD
We run to where the ball will be, not where it has been.
We weave joy and play into every aspect of our work.
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
We believe every child has the capacity to succeed when given the chance.
BE BOLD
We run to where the ball will be, not where it has been.
About Friends of Baseball
Friends of Baseball was founded in 2005 by an Oregon father, son and Board of Trustees driven by their passion to give back in the form of aid and partner resources to the community of youth baseball and softball that they love. What started out as a family foundation sponsored by the Oregon Sports Authority has grown into an independent 501c3 that is working in five key areas:
Since 2005, Friends of Baseball has invested more than $5.1 million into programs, scholarships, grants, and equipment reaching over 50,000 children through partnerships with schools, community organizations, and local governments.
Launched in 2015, our Full Count after-school and summer program has served over 1,200 youth with a baseball-inspired curriculum that combines physical activity, academic support, and social-emotional learning. This program helps young people build confidence, connection, and leadership—on and off the field.
We steward donations and funding from community foundations into high-impact programming, volunteer coach training, field improvements, and the distribution of gear and equipment. Our goal is to ensure that no child is left on the sidelines due to financial hardship, social exclusion, or lack of access to programming.
Friends of Baseball is focused on addressing the deep inequities that impact Portland’s youth particularly youth of color. Systemic barriers like high costs, limited neighborhood-based programs, and bias in traditional sports pathways have created significant gaps in access. Our work is guided by the belief that sports can be a powerful tool for equity, helping youth develop critical social-emotional skills like teamwork, patience, and self-confidence skills that are essential for both academic success and lifelong well-being.
- Baseball-inspired academic and physical education after school and summer enrichment programs through the Full Count RBI Academy
- Scholarships for youth to have access to play for local leagues and teams
- Training coaches to be positive mentors and providing them with resources
- Equipment and gear distribution
- Field safety and improvements
Since 2005, Friends of Baseball has invested more than $5.1 million into programs, scholarships, grants, and equipment reaching over 50,000 children through partnerships with schools, community organizations, and local governments.
Launched in 2015, our Full Count after-school and summer program has served over 1,200 youth with a baseball-inspired curriculum that combines physical activity, academic support, and social-emotional learning. This program helps young people build confidence, connection, and leadership—on and off the field.
We steward donations and funding from community foundations into high-impact programming, volunteer coach training, field improvements, and the distribution of gear and equipment. Our goal is to ensure that no child is left on the sidelines due to financial hardship, social exclusion, or lack of access to programming.
Friends of Baseball is focused on addressing the deep inequities that impact Portland’s youth particularly youth of color. Systemic barriers like high costs, limited neighborhood-based programs, and bias in traditional sports pathways have created significant gaps in access. Our work is guided by the belief that sports can be a powerful tool for equity, helping youth develop critical social-emotional skills like teamwork, patience, and self-confidence skills that are essential for both academic success and lifelong well-being.